re: More likely Scenario: LSU in BCS Championship game or Saints in Superbowl

LSU has by far the better chance. College is all about talent level overall, coaching, and interestingly enough, media perception.

1) LSU is as talented as any team they will play, and that includes UGA and Bama.
2) Coaching is good- Miles has a strong winning record, and is as good as any head-to-head with Saban. Chavis is as good as any D coach in the game. Cameron is a significant upgrade as OC, and LSU will return most of their experience on offense.
3) Media perception- it is, after all, based on rankings and public perception. An SEC team is by almost default going to be one of the 2 BCS teams. As much as ESPN likes to hate on us, there's been far too many cakewalks when it comes to SEC vs ___ for the title; if it's an SEC team in the mix, they're in. That goes double for LSU this year; we have a strong schedule. If LSU comes thru the SEC and is 12-1 with a loss at, say, a top 5 UGA team, there will be consensus that it is worthy ahead of, say, a 12-0 Louisville.

The Saints have Brees and Payton, but you can go 10-6 and possibly miss the playoffs. 13-3 still can lead to a terrible matchup (on the road in cold weather, or facing a team that will isolate our linebackers against speedy backs, etc).

And unlike LSU in the SEC, the Saints winning the NFC South won't make them a default favorite either. Denver, Green Bay, San Fancisco, New England, etc- all should be tougher than the Saints' competition in Atlanta (whereas LSU, if they get past Bama and Georgia, should have pretty clear sailing).

LSU

The saints are a 3-4 team with no out side line backers.

LSU is WAY more likely!

Because of playoff system saints have a better chance. Who's to say we wont have a repeat of 2011?

I'm a Steelers and Saints fan but LSU is a more complete team it it's level than both my pro favs.

Outside of Bama, UGA, Ole Miss(they are pretty good on both sides and usually gives us a run) We should beat everybody else no question.

The Saints has a shite ton of obstacles on their schedule with the added bonus that anybody can beat anybody in the NFL. Usually in college, you'll see the one a year upset for a team or you don't. A really good team in the NFL can lose four games and still be considered an equal or stronger than a team who is 14-2.

Saints in Super Bowl

The NFL is a lot more similar in talent so there are no bodybag games. But, you also have a lot more wiggle room of you lose. So you generally have to win 9-7 at a bare minimum to qualify, then you have 8.3% chance with nothing weighted. So the Saints have like a 5% change, generically.

LSU has, IMO 3 big games (UGA, Bama, A&M) where it's 50% or so to win. They must win 2/3 at minimum and hope it's the right combo. Also TCU, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Florida they should win but not guaranteed.

The nfl playoff system allowed a 7-loss Giants team to be champs. Meanwhile, one or two losses can knock out LSU, esp since Bama has a ridic easy schedule with only two dangerous games whereas LSU had about 5 tough games.